AED

This is a lifesaving machine called an automatic external defibrillator. It’s used to check on your heart rhythm and allow the individual operating the machine understand whether your heart needs a jolt to reestablish your normal heart rhythm. The reason that you might need a jolt to your own heart is because of a cardiac emergency such as cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest is if your heart stops pumping blood causing it not to circulate through your body. If you don’t have immediate treatment within four to six minutes, then you can suffer brain death. This system will help to try to prevent this from occurring. During a cardiac emergency, the machine will verbally let the operator know you will need a jolt. The shock, or jolt, that’s administered is known as defibrillation.

Defibrillation is one of four critical steps that help to maximize your chances of surviving after suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. These four measures include:

• Measure 2-doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which is CPR
• Step 3-using the AED for early defibrillation to get your heart rhythm back to a regular pattern if possible and is the most important step
• Measure 4-giving advanced cardiac support if it becomes necessary
Before using the AED, you should be trained in how to use it so it’s done correctly. During the training, you will be given a good understanding of how defibrillation works as part of saving and stabilization when there is a cardiac emergency. The men and women that are normally trained in how to use this system are emergency medical technicians (EMTs), police, fire personnel, and hospital personnel. In some instances, other trained people may be asked to use them.

After turning the machine on it will tell the person who is operating it to put two electrodes on the person’s chest, which are given the AED. This system will monitor their heart rhythm through these electrodes. If the heart does need a jolt, or jolt, the machine will let the operator know along with telling them to press the shock button and reminds them to step away from the individual while the jolt is provided. Even though it is an extremely sophisticated machine, an AED is designed so that it is simple to use. It’s about the size of a regular laptop.

In each state, there are laws that protect the general population who use the AED in an effort to save a person who is dealing with a cardiac emergency. The machines can typically be found in places where a large number of individuals gather like corporate buildings, airports, stadiums, schools, hospitals, community centers, malls, etc..